Well, you guys seemed to like the 2-ton Beebe winch I posted about, so you’re gonna love this: 
It’s the 5-ton big brother to the 2-ton. I was cruising eBay looking for a beater one to use for parts and maybe get the correct handle. Naturally, I got sidetracked and started looking at all the winches that were up for sale. I came across this monster which was, at $550, the cheapest one in good condition that was for sale. I had discovered that while you may find these things online at reasonable prices (although often they are wildly unreasonable) the shipping absolutely queers the deal. Shipping? $372. I mentally shrugged and was about to move on when I noticed that the listing said this thing was sitting in Corvallis….well, thats about 40 miles down the road. I’ll drive 40 miles to save $372…especially if I can get a better deal. So I contacted the buyer and asked if they’d take $300 and could I come pick it up. Yes to both, it turned out. And, in fact, they were passing through Missoula on their way somewhere for the weekend, so they actually dropped it off here in town for me. Sweet!
How does it compare to the 2-ton? Well, for one thing, its more than twice as heavy. As for size, here you go:
I’m thinking of how best to use this thing. It weighs about 150# so portability is a bit of a challenge. What Im thinking of doing is mounting it on a flatbed cart and using that to haul it around. Chain the winch to a tree as an anchor and all the stresses and weight goes into the chains around the anchor and the platform takes no strain at all. Need to give it some more thought.
But, its a really neat piece of machinery from ‘back in the day’. I’m looking forward to spooling some cable on it and seeing what kind of mayhem I can create with it.
Cool deal. I’d recommend synthetic rope instead of wire cable (much safer if it breaks, less chance to kink it).
Don’t forget that if you anchor it on a cart with the securing chain down low there will be a downward force vector along with the horizontal-ish one, which may break your cart or dig it into the ground.
I was going to go with synthetic winch rope but its a bit tricky to find quality stuff in lengths over 100′.
Try Northwest Parts and Rigging on Mullan.
We get our synthetic winch lines for our digger derricks from Altech; not sure who they source it from.
Good tip. Thx, man!
Would that much fit on the drum?
And Yankum Ropes can fix you up
Well, according to this ( https://archive.org/details/BeebeBrothers1955 ) the 5-ton, with a drum width of 12″, can accommodate 385′ of 1/2″ cable.
Either Fisheries Supply in Seattle or Seattle Marine and Fishing Supply Co. will cut as much AMSTEEL®BLUE as you want from a 600′ spool. SeaMar might stock larger sizes. Fisheries Supply has had a solid mail-order business for decades.
Amstel Blue is legit.
Bishop Lifting has 3/8″ synthetic, $490 for 200′. https://lifting.com/3-8-hmpe-synthetic-winch-line-17600-lbs-breaking-strength.html
I would probably just go with 3/8″ steel from Harbor freight for $45 and add lengths as required with shackles.
“I’m thinking of how best to use this thing. It weighs about 150# so portability is a bit of a challenge. What Im thinking of doing is mounting it on a flatbed cart and using that to haul it around. Chain the winch to a tree as an anchor and all the stresses and weight goes into the chains around the anchor and the platform takes no strain at all. Need to give it some more thought. ”
Thats how I did mine. 4-foot section of chains with hooks on the end. 4×4 cribbing to create a base that clamps to my handtruck. Run the thing out to where I need it, lay the hand truck flate, chains around the anchor treee and start pulling.
Mine came with steel cable and I’m really loathe to chanbe that because I just don’t feel that the synthetic stuff can work s well as the steel. I’m sure that there is all sort of laboratory,empirical/biblical/znecdotal evidence that the new age synthetic cables have it all over the old steel stuff. meh…. I’m a steel guy.
NurseDaddy
MBS (Minimum breaking strength) on 1/2″ steel winch cable is around 23k pounds. 1/2″ synthetic is around 26k, so it’s a bit stronger.
That usually means you can go down a size in diameter, and fit more on the drum.
Maybe a “sled” frame ( \____/ ) from 6″ or 8″ channel iron? Weight of the frame might be negligent after it’s full of .5″ cable. You could skid it around with the ATV. Looks like a lot of fun and a good deal!
I like the idea of the sled frame.
Second/third the recommendation for synthetic rope rather than wire cable, especially as the smaller of your two winches already has wire cable. Rope is much easier and safer to handle, and the modern stuff is amazingly strong and durable. Just get it from a reputable supplier of rigging equipment.
There is real danger in a wire cable breaking – it has a lot of potential energy stored in it at the breaking point, and also is heavy. When it whips around, it can literally cut trees, cars, people in half.
Synthetic rope is safer that way.
fell in love with the chain saw portable winches – wasn’t familar with them until I saw them on some of the “frontier” reality shows – impressed as hell by the possibilities -don’t have them around here – not even for sale without a special order ;;;;;;;;;
Might be more than a little work, but take Old Para’s sled frame idea one step farther.
Solid base frame, might be able to do it with 2-3 layers of Gorilla-glued together hardwood plywood, might need a sheet of 1/4″-3/8″mild steel; add 4 pivoting wheels on a frame with a cam to lower/raise them. Wheels and the frame can be fairly light, might be able to make one from your 4-wheel cart because all it has to do is roll the winch around by itself (a steel base, while much heavier – but done right you can tow it with the 4X4 – offers the advantage of welding on attachment points for the winch itself and the anchor strap/chain attachment rather than through-bolting to wood).
Roll the wheeled platform next to a tree, move the wheel raise/lower lever to drop the platform on the ground, now none of the stress is on the wheels or wheel frame. Wrap a “tree saver strap” around the tree, chain it to the base plate, crank away (the synthetic tow straps are strronger, espcially pound-for-pound than chain, but not as flexible for controlling length; remember you’ve got 5 tons – 10,000 lbs – of capacity and it’s going to be applied in both directions).
I think you will find the logistics of field use for the BB Winch will be difficult. At the marine yard I work out of, there are at least 10 working push boats, all have BB winches. All mounted to heavy steel pedestals, all have fairlead blocks to make sure the cable feeds correctly on the drum of the winch. BB’s have issues with misalignment of the cable. Something like a Jet JG puller may be a more realistic tool for your needs.
maybe a wheelbarrow with a flatbed dedicated just for the winch?